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Operation: Musketry 3
Date: 18th August 1943 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 547 Squadron (motto: Celer ad caedendum - 'Swift to strike'). 19 Group. Coastal Command
Type: Wellington XI
Serial: HZ407
Code: 2V-K
Base: RAF Davidstow Moor, Cornwall
Location: Bay of Biscay
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. John Clarke 1230372 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed
Pilot: F/O. Noel William Springer NZ/415034 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Charles Ross Byers R/127557 RCAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. George Billing Hasdell 1222569 RAFVR Age 33. Missing - believed killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Henry James Graham 1029884 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Granville Smith 1021078 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 13:27 hrs on an anti - submarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay.
The aircraft failed to return to base and no trace was found of the bomber presumed lost over the Bay of Biscay.
Some reports state that they were shot down by Shot down by Oblt. Hermann Horstmann of 13/KG40. (Kracker Archive)
Right: Oblt. Hermann Horstmann
The Springer family also lost another family member, F/O. Colin George Nairne NZ/42117 RNZAF on the 30th July 1944. Further details here, he survived an earlier accident, details here.
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. John Clarke. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 135. Son of Frederick and Esther Clarke, of Leigh, Lancashire and husband of Margaret Clarke, of Leigh, Lancashire, England.
F/O. Noel William Springer. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 198. Born on the 23rd October 1920 at Wakefield, Nelson. Attended Nelson College from 1934 to 1935. Worked as a farmer for his fathers farm 'Totaradale' at Wakefield. Enlisted at Levin on the 07th September 1941. Initial training with No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School on the 19th October 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 17th December 1941. Pilots badge awarded and promoted to sergeant on the 24th April 1942. Attached to Bomber and gunnery school as staff pilot on the 19th May 1942. Awarded commission on the 091st December 1942. Train to New York and then embarked for England on the 09th March 1943. Further training with No. 3 (C) Operational Training Unit on the 11nd April 1943. Finally joining 547 squadron on the 03rd June 1943. Son of Ernest and Constance Ella L. Springer (née Ricketts) of Wakefield, Nelson, New Zealand. A total of 742 flying hours logged and on his 10th operational sortie.
Fl/Sgt. Charles Ross Byers. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 181. Worked for the aircraft division National steel Car Company at Malton. Trained at No. 1 Central Navigation School after enlisting in 1941. Son of Charles William (died 1956, age 69) and Winifred Beatrice Byers (died 1979, age 88), of 350 Main Street, Weston, Ontario, Canada. His brother Douglas also served.
Sgt. George Billing Hasdell. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 152. Son of Charles Henry and Comfort C. Hasdell, of Northampton and husband of Winifred Louisa Hasdell of Northampton, England.
Sgt. Henry James Graham. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 151. Son of William John and Aletta Gertrude Graham, of Portobello, Staffordshire, England.
Sgt. Granville Smith. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 165. Son of James and Jessie Smith, of Newton Heath, Manchester, England.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 25-10-2021
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 25 October 2021, 18:09